A High-Performing Mind : An Inspirational Guide of Proven Methods to Find Your Purpose, Improve Discipline, Overcome Your Fears, Achieve Your Goals, and Live Your Best Life
Are you interested in learning how to increase resilience, overcome adversity, consistently perform at your best, achieve your goals, and build lasting success?
A High-Performing Mind seamlessly weaves powerful life lessons and mental tools through entertaining short stories to show you how to empower your mind and develop the foundational skills, mindsets, habits, and understanding to achieve your goals and live your best life.
Andrew D Thompson, former professional athlete, hospitality industry executive, and high-performance coach, shares the 12 attributes of high performers, in this inspiring step-by-step self-development guide, so you can develop your own high performing mind and perform at your best, get the results you want, and find greater success in your life.
A High-Performing Mind shares invaluable insights and mental tools to give you the capabilities you’ll need to overcome any obstacle, setback, or failure, find better and more creative responses to life’s daily challenges, and build a happy and more fulfilling life—no matter your circumstances.
This easy-to-read and motivating book will show you how to:
► Increase your mental strength and resilience so you can overcome any challenge. ► Respond in better and more creative ways in your daily life and accelerate your progress. ► Find clarity and the discipline you’ll need to achieve your goals. ► Develop the skills you need to master your craft and excel in your pursuits. ► Use positive actions to break out of negativity, failures, and setbacks. ► Overcome the fear and the barriers that block your success. ► Access your best, so you achieve better results and greater success when it matters most.
If you’ve ever struggled in your life, had something important not work out the way you hoped, failed to achieve your goals, performed below expectations, had challenges with your health or your relationships, been stopped by fear, blocked by nerves, pulled down by negativity, or sidelined by unexpected life-altering setbacks and not succeeded the way you hoped, then you’re in the right place.
A High-Performing Mind will show you how to create the life you want by providing you with the insight, understanding, and tools to stay focused, find the improvements you need, and make the most out of your circumstances—whether you’re aiming for the top, struggling to get through challenging times, or looking to find simple ways to live a more meaningful and rewarding life.
Andrew D. Thompson is a former professional athlete, hospitality industry executive, and high-performance coach who survived a debilitating and life-threatening illness in 2016 that left him bedridden for months and took years to overcome.
His unique life experiences helped him to identify and develop the 12 key attributes of high performers, which he not only draws on to elevate the performance of elite athletes, business leaders, and anyone looking to improve their circumstances, but were also critical for him making it through and eventually recovering from the mystery disease that ravaged his life.
A High-Performing Mind is his award winning inspiring and motivating personal-development book that shows you how to develop your own high performing mind so that you can expand your capabilities, overcome any adversity, perform at your best when it counts, and live a more enjoyable life with greater success— no matter who you are.
Andrew has been coaching and helping people of all ages and all walks of life including elite athletes, high performers, and business leaders over the last 25+ years learn how to improve focus, clarity and resilience, get past their setbacks and failures, and perform at their best so they can overcome the barriers that block them from living their best and most fulfilling lives.
“You’re the same person 10 minutes after you fail, only wiser.”
“Accept What’s Going Wrong, Stay Focused on What You Want.”
“What you learn in your Hardest Moment is the foundation for your best results.”
“Adversity is almost certain to come along on the way to achieving our goals. By preparing for it and knowing how we will respond positively if it does, we're mentally stronger, more resilient, and able to keep going until we succeed.”
Andrew D Thompson, author of A High-Performing mind, self improvement book, best inspirational book
I don’t expect much from most self-help books, but ended up being genuinely impressed with A High-Performing Mind. Right from the beginning, the author shares a really intense personal story about dealing with a serious health issue. Honestly, this part grabbed me right away—it’s very real and relatable, and immediately made me want to hear more about how he overcame such a difficult challenge.
What I liked best is how practical and useful the advice is. He talks about concepts like "Dirty Discipline" (which basically means being disciplined but not beating yourself up if you're not perfect), understanding your desires clearly, and building what he calls a "Warrior Mentality." All these ideas feel very doable. You don’t need to be an athlete or a business executive to use these methods; they’re pretty straightforward and can easily apply to everyday life goals, like improving your health, career, or personal relationships.
One thing that stood out was how he explains the importance of habits, especially starting small and building momentum slowly. It’s nice to read something realistic instead of expecting immediate, drastic changes overnight.
The writing itself was easy-going and felt supportive, almost like talking with a friend who's giving you really solid advice. There were a few parts where the author spent a lot of time talking about his own experiences, which might not interest everyone equally, but personally, I found these stories motivating.
Overall, I’d say this book is definitely worth your time if you’re looking for ways to get stronger mentally and emotionally, handle tough times better, or just improve your overall life. It’s practical, inspirational, and honestly enjoyable to read. Highly recommend it!
His backstory gives him all the cred I needed to know about him. He has earned his position as an expert in this field by the school of hard knocks. Frankly, I would much rather take advice from someone who has gone through hell and survived it than from someone who thinks they are smart because their trust fund paid for a Phd. His advice comes in the form of taking one step at a time so that anyone can build the warrior inside themselves. We’ve heard it before, it is the momentum of daily habits. “Dirty Discipline” is a concept with an intriguing name, but when you read what it means it makes sense. At the end of the book is a sort of summary that I printed and put on my wall. The 12 Attributes of a High-Performing Mind. It is a template for success!
This is a very fun and motivational book about achieving possibly your highest potential. It is written in a very friendly tone, the chapters ranging from lighter topics to more difficult ones.
Much of the book contains anecdotes that the author has lived first-hand, sometimes as the main character, sometimes as a supporting character, so to speak. Even though this is not fiction, I don't want to spoil too much for potential readers, I would just like to say that the topics are varied and complex and I learned new things along the way. I loved that many of the chapters were using advice and mindsets often relevant in sports either as a metaphor or a general truth, easier digestible through the lens of sports. My favourite anecdotes were those about the french instructor, Star Wars and of course, Thomas and friends.
Another great thing is that this is also a handbook with useful sections at the end of each chapter. These sections contain questions and prompts that help the reader have more clarity not only on their goals, but also on setting realistic actionable steps for moving forward and learning more about themselves. I was sadly not in the position to try them onto myself, but I sincerely believe that these sections (as well as the rest of the book) can be very helpful for anyone needing more clarity, feeling demotivated or simply curious about how far they could go with a bit of insight and discipline. Even those who might not feel they "qualify" to read this book will still find enjoyment in all the anecdotes.
I have received this book through the kindness of the author via Booktasters, in exchange for my honest opinion on it.
My word for 2025 is "brave". I am sixty-one years old, and I've yet to accomplish all the things I want to in life. I want to travel more, and I want to go on a mission trip. Now I have both of these things planned, and I am ready to move forward. As I read through this book, I kept thinking that I wish I had this when I was teaching middle school. We would have went through this book in my advisory class, chapter by chapter. This book is for athletes, students, and regular everyday people, like me. The author gives some personal stories, and stories that he has heard for examples of how his tips have helped. It is a book that is filled with great advice on how to be successful. I am not going to say that every single chapter applied to my current needs, but I could definitely see how it would be beneficial to someone else. I especially liked the questions at the end of each chapter to help with focusing and setting up next steps to help me move forward. My first mission trip is in June, and I cannot wait to go!
Book Review: "A High-Performing Mind" by Andrew D. Thompson This book is a well-crafted, insightful guide for anyone striving to unlock their full potential. The author provides a practical roadmap to cultivate mental resilience, focus, and clarity in both personal and professional life. The book’s structure is simple yet effective, with each chapter focusing on key traits of high performers. What sets it apart is its actionable advice. This book doesn’t just have chapetrs to focusing on ket traits but also has tools and exercises to implement these strategies immediately. The genre of the book is motivational but not overbearing, making it accessible to readers from all walks of life. Whether you’re a student, professional, or entrepreneur, the lessons are relevant and adaptable. This book has real life examples, which makes this book the book relatable. This is a must read book for someone seeking to develop a winning mindset and achieve personal growth.
A High Performing Mind is a really great resource for anyone who is looking for actionable ways to meet their goals. For me, the most helpful parts of AHPM are when Andrew describes how to overcome the common ways that we self-sabotage on the path to success. The book includes stories from Andrew’s personal and professional experience that show how his strategies have worked IRL and also make the book a really fun read.
I’ve read quite a few business and self-help books and AHPM sets itself apart because its guidance is easy to understand and apply in your own life. I’d recommend reading this book and think it would make a great gift for anyone in your life, especially new grads, athletes, entrepreneurs… 5 stars and excited for Andrew Thompson’s next book!
This book is all about making your brain strong and healthy! It teaches you how to think better, stay focused, and feel happy. The book gives easy tips to help you stay calm, solve problems, and make good choices every day.
The words are simple to understand, and the ideas can help anyone who wants to do their best in life. It talks about eating healthy, getting enough sleep, and even ways to relax when you feel stressed.
One of the best parts is that it gives real examples of how small changes can make a big difference. If you want to feel smarter, happier, and ready to take on new challenges, this book is a great choice.
I think this book is helpful for anyone who wants to train their brain and live a better life. It’s fun and easy to read!
If you're looking to whip your brain into shape, this book is a fantastic pick. It's packed with practical advice on how to stay focused, manage stress, and make healthier choices. The simplicity of the language makes it accessible to everyone, and the real-life examples are truly inspiring. Plus, it offers some great tips on diet, sleep, and relaxation techniques. Whether you're aiming to boost your mental game or just need a motivational boost, this book delivers. Highly recommend it for anyone looking to level up their life!
A High Performing Mind is a fantastic resource for those looking to level up in any area of their life. Unlike other books in this genre, A High Performing Mind gets straight to the point with easy to understand and actionable tools for achieving your goals. The chapter summaries and follow up questions reinforce the concepts/tools while the personal stories paint an entertaining picture of how these tools can be applied in real life. I highly recommend a High Performing Mind to anyone interested in building their skills to achieve their goals!
Andrew D. Thompson's A High-Performing Mind is a compelling guide that seamlessly blends actionable strategies with heartfelt personal narratives. Thompson introduces 12 attributes of high performers, each accompanied by practical exercises and real-life examples, providing readers with a clear roadmap for personal growth. His candid sharing of personal challenges adds depth and relatability, making the concepts resonate on a profound level. This combination of structured guidance and authentic storytelling makes the book not only informative but also genuinely inspiring.
This book is extremely motivating! I love the author's approach to tackling one's struggle to not only reach for their goals and believing they can achieve those goals. The 12 attributes of high performers are game-changers! I feel there are a lot of people who struggle with overcoming the fear of emotional barriers that block their success, and this well-written book helps them break through and live the life they want.
The book offers practical advice on building mental resilience and achieving personal goals, all presented through engaging short stories that make the concepts easy to grasp. Thompson's approach is both relatable and motivating, making it a quick and enjoyable read. If you're looking for straightforward strategies to enhance your mindset and live your best life, this book is worth checking out.
This book felt like therapy in paperback form. I didn’t expect to connect with it so deeply, but here I am, sitting quietly after the last page, just letting it all sink in. Each short story felt personal, like the author had been watching my life and somehow knew exactly what I needed to hear.
The tone is warm, honest, and comforting like a good friend pulling up a chair and saying, “Here’s what helped me. Maybe it’ll help you too.” I highlighted so many lines that I lost count. It’s not just inspirational fluff it’s real, raw, and refreshingly grounded in truth.
Some pieces made me pause and reflect; others made me tear up. And by the end, I genuinely felt lighter, more focused, and more hopeful about where I am in my journey.
If you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or just need a little perspective and peace, I can’t recommend this enough. It’s one of those books I’ll definitely come back to again.
This excellent guide outlines the necessary steps to live your best life and maximize your potential. Often, we have high hopes and expectations but can fall into negative thinking and make excuses that hinder our progress toward achieving our goals. The book provides insightful strategies and tools for cultivating habits and attitudes that foster gradual yet steady improvement. The author shares compelling stories of how he and others have overcome significant challenges to pursue their heartfelt purposes and goals. The strategies encourage resilience and help shift your perspective on failure, viewing it as a learning experience. Additionally, it teaches you to see your fears as challenges you can overcome to become stronger.
This book is a game-changer. A High-Performing Mind isn’t just about motivation — it’s a real, thoughtful guide to upgrading your mindset, building mental discipline, and taking control of your personal growth. Andrew D. Thompson writes in a way that’s both powerful and easy to follow. I found myself underlining so many lines. Whether you're feeling stuck or already on a self-development path, this book gives you practical tools and inspiration. Highly recommended!
Andrew D. Thompson turns lived adversity into sharp mental tools. His near-death experience fuels 12 mindset attributes built for clarity, focus, and emotional balance. The premise: failure teaches, fear stalls, discipline delivers. Through gritty mantras like “Fail your way to excellence,” he sketches a practical model where setbacks sharpen performance. Key takeaways?
Mental clarity = forward momentum
Discipline beats doubt
Warrior mindset resists chaos
Emotion can be trained, not tamed
The tone is direct, grounded, no fluff — a blend of story and technique for people who want growth with edge. It's not theoretical; it's lived, tested, and built for high-stakes moments. Well laid out book packed with a clear and positive message: you have the power to control your choices through hard work and adherence to several principles.
This was a very informative and helpful book. It basically was similar or like cognitive and behavioral therapies. The book was a roadmap to get your thoughts, emotions and body under control in stressful or challenging areas of your life. The author talks about empowering your will, resilence to overcome adversity, personal growth and improvement etc. And he talks of numerous other ways of improving your mind to work for you, instead of impeding your progress or lifelong goals in life. It was a well written book. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this practical guide to mental and emotional fitness in your life. A great read!
The book is a must read for anyone who wants to excel in whatever the are trying to accomplish. Andrew is a thoughtful coach that knows how to communicate. I took away many valuable lessons that I will implement immediately. I would make this recommended reading for anyone wanting to perform at an elite level
Wow, I. love. this. book. To start, it's such a digestible read. I find that so often with non-fiction books, you have to suffer through them to get the learnings. HPM is wonderful - the authors' story and everything he's been through is so moving and inspiring, and there's also so many hilarious anecdotes. It's really approachable. And there's SO many beautiful life lessons and mental hacks. We're all guilty of negative self talk and being our own harshest critics. HPM provides SUCH a refreshing perspective and great advice on how to approach the lows in life and learn from them, accomplish goals, and be more resilient. It's like a training program for your mind. I feel super inspired and motivated after finishing it, I can see myself re-reading this book many times. Give this to someone who really wants to accomplish a goal, they will 100% benefit from it.
Thank you Booktastersr and Andrew D Thompson for this e copy! Thompson dives into discipline, habits, desire, success, and failure through a variety of lifetime experiences . His writing style is easy to comprehend making this a quick and easy read. This book is great for students, entrepreneurs, and anyone determined to make positive substantial changes in their lives.
A High-Performing Mind is an impactful and actionable guide filled with valuable tools to enhance your mindset and drive personal growth. Andrew D. Thompson combines deep insights with motivating stories, making complex concepts easy to understand and apply. It’s a must-read for anyone looking to elevate their life!
This book is full of practical wisdom! It’s easy and enjoyable to read. The stories Andrew uses to get his points across are entertaining and enlightening. Anyone who’s serious about taking their performance to the next level will benefit from reading this! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A High-Performing Mind: A Must-Read for Achieving Your Best Life Andrew D. Thompson's *A High-Performing Mind: Strengthen Your Mind and Live Your Best Life* is more than just another self-help book; it's a transformative guide born from personal triumph over adversity. Having faced a life-altering illness, Thompson's insights are not just theoretical; they're forged in the fires of real-life experience, making this book incredibly powerful and relatable. I give it a resounding 5 out of 5 stars.
Thompson's journey from professional athlete and hospitality executive to high-performance coach, culminating in his own battle with a debilitating illness, provides a unique and compelling backdrop for his 12 Attributes of a High-Performing Mind. This book isn't about platitudes; it's about practical application. Through engaging anecdotes and actionable cognitive strategies, Thompson provides readers with the tools to navigate life's inevitable challenges and achieve lasting positive change.
This accessible and motivational manual delves into key themes that resonate deeply with anyone striving for personal growth. From understanding your core values and sharpening your focus to conquering procrastination and cultivating a "Warrior Mentality," Thompson offers a roadmap for achieving peak performance. He doesn't shy away from the difficult topics, addressing the fears, nerves, and obstacles that often hold us back from realizing our true potential. He provides concrete strategies for overcoming these hurdles and achieving mastery in our chosen endeavors.
*A High-Performing Mind* is particularly effective in its approach to enhancing creativity, clarity, and concentration. Thompson's methods for identifying and overcoming self-limiting beliefs are invaluable. He empowers readers to transition from a place of perceived limitations to one of empowered action, enabling them to achieve better outcomes and experience greater success in all aspects of life.
This book is a testament to the power of the human mind to overcome adversity and achieve greatness. It's a must-read for anyone seeking to unlock their full potential, cultivate a stronger mindset, and live a more fulfilling and joyful life. If you're ready to take control of your mind and create the life you've always dreamed of, *A High-Performing Mind* is the perfect guide to get you there.
'A High-Performing Mind' is an anecdote of Andrew D. Thompson, former soccer athlete, hospitality specialist, and high-performance coach who underwent unfathomable illness/struggles a decade ago and his life lessons plus proven tools to his readers who are struggling to make an impact in their lives to meet the facets of positivity and to boldly face overwhelming odds. Though the socio-technological advancements are in full swiftness, Andrew feels unintended consequences are still negatively impacting the mind's strength, emotional resilience, and so on.
The book is presented in three similar chunks focusing on strengthening the Heart, Mind, and Spirit. With a theme that revolves around mental resilience, focus, and clarity, Andrew helps his readers introduce powerful tools that in turn act as prompts to relook at the paradigm shift of respective lifestyles.He also brings in his life lessons and personal experiences to draw coherent motifs and to strengthen the mind, and soul.
He strongly believes in finding positives when things are going against the intent of the personnel. His empiric thought processing of taking chances, and following your heart is very much an inspiration for every reader.He also coins the need of finding flow and perform at our best as it's the byproduct of remediating chances to yield better outcomes.
If you're someone who is looking to invite the impact of strengthening your body, mind, and soul towards a high-performing and to find out the tools, and exercises to unlock their full potential with focus, memory, and mental resilience, this is a recommendable pick. Andrew's ability of mentality coaching approach is very much sensed in his writing.
A High-Performing Mind isn’t just another mindset book filled with quotes and theories. It’s a straight-talking, results-driven guide that helps you actually build the kind of mental strength high performers talk about—without needing to retreat to a cabin in the woods or wake up at 4 a.m. every day.
What I appreciated most was the way Andrew Thompson breaks down the habits and mental shifts into something you can apply right now. He’s not trying to impress you with science—he’s handing you the tools and saying, “Here, go build something better with this.” And it works.
The book covers everything from mental clarity and resilience to discipline, goal-setting, and focus. But it never gets overwhelming. You can read it in chunks, try something out, and see the difference almost immediately.
This is the kind of book I’d hand to a business owner, a student, or anyone trying to level up without burning out. It’s smart, but not preachy. Motivating, but not fluffy. And most importantly, it’s built for people who are ready to stop spinning their wheels and start moving forward.
Highly recommend if you’re looking for a mindset upgrade that stick.
His backstory gives him all the cred I needed to know about him. He has earned his position as an expert in this field by the school of hard knocks. Frankly, I would much rather take advice from someone who has gone through hell and survived it than from someone who thinks they are smart because their trust fund paid for a Phd. His advice comes in the form of taking one step at a time so that anyone can build the warrior inside themselves. We’ve heard it before, it is the momentum of daily habits. “Dirty Discipline” is a concept with an intriguing name, but when you read what it means it makes sense. At the end of the book is a sort of summary that I printed and put on my wall. The 12 Attributes of a High-Performing Mind. It is a template for success!
Andrew D. Thompson’s A High-Performing Mind is nothing short of transformative. Through vivid storytelling and the powerful framework of the 12 Attributes of High Performers, Thompson offers practical, deeply resonant tools to boost clarity, resilience, and focus. His personal journey through adversity adds authenticity and emotional weight, making the book feel like a trusted companion rather than a generic self-help guide. I’ve come away not just inspired, but truly equipped—with a clear, actionable path to elevate my mindset and performance. A must-read for anyone ready to unlock their potential
Success, in any field, isn't just about physical strength—it's about the power of your mind. In A High Performing Mind, Andrew D. Thompson reminds us of something crucial: our mindset can either lift us to greatness or pull us into failure. This book goes beyond conventional motivational advice, offering real, practical strategies to strengthen your mental resilience and emotional clarity.
What stands out is Thompson’s approach to discipline—he introduces the concept of "dirty discipline," urging us to break through the comfort zones we so often cling to. Alongside this, the “warrior mentality” empowers readers to face challenges head-on and build the mental toughness required to persevere through setbacks.
The book doesn’t hide from the harsh realities of failure, fear, or weakness. Instead, it redefines them as opportunities for growth and improvement. It’s not about perfection, but about embracing the process of becoming stronger, both mentally and emotionally.
If you’re someone seeking to cultivate inner strength, overcome obstacles, and elevate your mindset for lasting success, A High Performing Mind offers valuable guidance that will resonate long after the final page.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Andrew Thompson’s A High Performing Mind is a practical and inspiring guide to boosting focus, productivity, and mental clarity. Packed with actionable tips and relatable insights, it shows how small changes can lead to big results.
Thompson’s easy-to-read style makes complex ideas simple, and the exercises included help you put the advice into action right away. If you’re looking to improve your mindset and get more out of life, this book is a great place to start!